Photographic camera



July 16, 1963 w. T. RENTscHLl-:R

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 Unite The inventionrelates to photographic cameras of the type wherein the speed anddiaphragm setting members are fixedly interconnected and related toprovide various predetermined speed diaphragm pairs representingexposure values so arranged as to provide uniform exposure-valuegradations over a given range of settings. This application is acontinuation of Serial Number 11,865, filed Feb. 29, 1960, and nowabandoned.

In the past it has been proposed to construct cameras of the above type,which are adapted to take photographs not only with an automaticexposure setting adjustment but also with a manual setting adjustmentwhen the automatic adjustment is not desired. In such cameras thediaphragm blades or segments are arranged on two movable, reciprocallyshiftable adjusting members one of which is coupled to the exposure timeor shutter speed setting member whereas the other adjusting member isshiftable for the purpose of correlating the entire diaphragm adjustmentrange with a single specic shutter speed. However, cameras constructedin this manner have the disadvantage that they do not permit certainkinds of exposures involving a manual setting to be carried out wheresuch setting is required other than the predetermined single specificshutter speed.

The above-described disadvantage and drawback of this type of camera isobviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved photographic camera of the kind outlinedabove, which is so organized and arranged that for the manual settingoperation exposures of diiierent kinds, involving shutter speeds otherthan the predetermined speed which is selected for use with the variousdiaphragm apertures may be had, while at the same time effecting adesirable, simple and economical construction which may be readilymanufactured.

The present invention accomplishes this and solves the problem by anovel organization which still makes use of the known and testedassemblage wherein the diaphragm blades or segments are mounted in thewellknown manner on two movable, reciprocally shiftable adjustablemembers which may be alternately operated or adjusted on the basis ofprescribed and starting positions, one of said adjusting members beingcoupled to a combined exposure-time or shutter-speed setting member andiirst diaphragm setting member, being automatically movable in responseto operation of a light intensity measuring device for the purpose ofeffecting automatic exposure settings. However, with the present novelorganization the other adjusting member, which includes a seconddiaphragm adjusting member and second speed setting member, is manuallyoperable and arranged to cooperate with a special device whichinfluences or regulates the amount of the open time of the camerashutter.

The invention thus provides a photographic camera of the above describedgeneral type which, however, can be used both for automatically effectedexposures and exposures effected manually while not imposing anyrestrictions as to the shutter speed, this being accomplished with asimple, reliably operative structure. This important feature andadvantage which is realized in such a camera, results from the fact thatthe operative connec- Stares Patent lCC tion between the manuallyoperable diaphragm adjusting member and the said special device whichinfluences the the amount ot open time of the camera shutter producesthe greatest possible freedom of motion and provides completeindependence in the selection of the shutter speeds as well in themanner in which they are correlated with the manually operable adjustingmember. This enables exposure times or shutter speeds of all possiblevalues to be had for the taking of photographs utilizing a manualexposure setting, all in a simple and easily understandable manner andwith little additional expenditure or cost.

Included in the organization various shutter speeds may be had besidesthose.

Also included, by the above organization, are shutter speeds which arenot automatically controlled by the shutter mechanism.

The above includes, more particularly, exposure times not automaticallycontrolled by the shutter and which can be obtained in a cameraconstructed in accordance with the invention without involving anyadditional expenditure or cost, this being accomplished by utilizing asthe device which influences the amount of open time of the camerashutter, a well known mechanism for producing B-exposures.

In accordance with a further construction as provided by the invention,the operativeness of the camera in the event that the automatic exposuresetting device becomes inoperative is insured by constituting thespecial device which iniiuences the amount of the open time of thecamera shutter as a control device which produces automatically runoffexposure times of different amounts, and by correlating speciiicdiaphragm values with the said exposure times in a iixedly related,predetermined manner.

This results in a novel camera-setting structure as provided by theinvention, which may be particularly advantageous because of itssimplicity and enonomy of manufacture when the setting position of thespeed setting member which provides the longest exposure time isassociated with the starting position of the first diaphragm adjustingmember, and when the second diaphragm adjusting member is connected toanother speed setting member which also cooperates with the same speedregulating device which is associated with the rst speed setting member,the second speed setting member when set at automatic position alsoeffecting a shutter adjustment which gives the longest exposure time.

According to a further camera construction as provided by the invention,a well known device for effecting B- exposures can be controlled, in amanner known per se, by means of the second exposure time settingmember.

The accompanying FlGURE is a diagrammatic representation of a camerasetting and control system as provided by the invention. The ligureillustrates one embodiment of the invention, and shows the operativeconnections of the various setting members of the camera.

Refelring now to the single figure, the numeral 1 indicates an exposuretime or shutter speed setting member, also termed a first speed settingmember. The setting member 1 includes a control cam la, which cooperateswth a cam follower pin Z constituted as part of a well-known exposuretime or shutter speed escapement mechanism which is not shown in thedrawing for the sake of clarity of illustration. Operatively xedlyconnected or coupled with the speed setting member 1 to move as a unittherewith is `a irst diaphragm adjusting mem-ber or ring 3, which isdescribed in detail below and which provides a correlation between theshutter speed and the diaphragm values in a closed setting range havinguniform exposure value gradations. Assuming that the diaphragm settingrange extends between the values 2.8 and 22, and that the shutter speedsetting range varies from 1/30 sec. to 1/50 sec., lthe speed-diaphragmvalues may be correlated, for example, as follows.

Speed or exposure time: Diaphragm aperture This correlation of exposuretime or shutter speed and diaphragm values results in a uniformgraduated series of exposure values, comprising the values 8 to 17, seethe scale Z7.

'in accordance with the invention, the segments or blades 4 of theobjective diaphragm may be arranged in a well-known and well-testedmanner per se, on two movable, reciprocally shiitable adjusting membersor rings 3 and 5 intended to be alternately operable on the basis ofcertain prescribed starting positions, the adjusting member 3 beingmechanically coupled, as already mentioned, to the first speed settingmember 1 and being automatically moved and set in response `to operationor" a light intensity measuring device for the purpose of effecting anautomatic exposure setting, whereas the adjusting member 5 is manuallyoperated and is constituted to cooperate with a special device forinfluencing or adjusting the amount of the open time of the camerashutter.

The connection of the annular diaphragm adjusting member 3 with theexposure time setting member 1 (which latter is shown as being in theform of a slide) is established, in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, by a bell crank or angle-shaped lever 6 which is pivotallymounted on a stationary axis 7 provided on the camera. One arm 6a of thebell crank 6 has a pin and slot connection 6b, 8 with the diaphragm ring3 which constitutes a first diaphragm adjusting member, whereas theother arm 6c has a pin 9 which is received in a control slot or controlmechanism 10a provided in a slide 10, constituting .a first diaphragmsetting member and which latter is iixedly secured to the speed settingmember 1 by means of two rails 11 `and 12.

Instead of being constructed as slides, as shown in the figure, the twomembers 1 and 111 may have annular or ring-like shapes, thereby to adaptthem to constructional conditions of well known cameras. The lightintensity measuring device, which effects actuation of the diaphragmcontrol members 3, 111 and the speed setting member 1 may 'beconstructed in any well known or proposed manner, one suitableconstruction being illustrated and described, for example in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 3,004,481, issued October 17, 1961, andentitled Photographic Camera With Electric Exposure Regulator.

The automatic control and actuation of the setting members 1 and 10 iseffected mechanically, and involves a mechanical stop which may bevariously positioned by the light intensity measuring device and whichcooperates with a stepped cam 1b provided on the speed setting member 1.The adjustable stop is constituted as a pivoted lever 13 which may alsobe connected to a sensing device or follower, preferably in apressure-relief type of organization, engageable with a cam orequivalent means provided on the turnable coil of a galvanometer whichis fed by current from a photoelectric cell. Such control devices havealso been described, for example, in German Patent 832,390 and in FrenchPatent 1,138,435.

In the illustrated embodiment `of the invention, the setting members 1and 10 are shown in their starting positions which correspond to theloaded condition of a driving spring 14 connected with and acting on thesetting member 1). In order to insure that for such position the controlgalvanometer which effects the variable positioning of the stop lever 13may be freely movable and may freely respond to the prevailing lightintensity, the sensing or cam follower means associated with the stoplever 13 is disengaged from the cam or equivalent control means of theturnable coil of the galvanometer. This can be accomplished by theprovision of a cam (not shown for the sake of clarity of illustration)on one of the setlting members 1 or 111 which will shift the lever 13 toa position to efiect such disengagement, even when the galvanometerresponds to the maximum light intensity.

The halting of the power-driven setting members 1 and 111 during theshifting of Such members by the spring 14 from left to right is effectedby the lever 13, as it is positioned in the path of movement of thestepped edge 1b. After a short initial movement of the members 1 and 10,the lever 13 will occupy its proper adjusted position as determined bythe rotative position of the turnable coil of the galvanometer, suchadjusted position of the lever being indicative of the prevailing lightintensity. Depending on the adjusted position of the lever 13, thesetting member 1 will be permitted a greater or lesser adjustingmovement from lleft to right, until one of the steps on the edge 1babuts a. bent lug 13a provided on the end of the lever 13. With theorganization shown the lowest step of lthe edge 1b corresponds to theminimum light value, and the highest step corresponds to the maximumvalue of the light intensity which can be indicated by the lightintensity measuring device.

In order to load the driving spring 14 connected to the two settingmembers 1 and 10 there is provided a slide 1S which cooperates with theextended end 11a of the connecting rail 11, in the manner shown in thedrawings. The slide 15 is moved in spring-loading direction (from rightto left) preferably in response to setting or cocking of the shutter, orin response to advance of the film transparent device of the camera bymeans of a gear 16 and rack 15a, and the setting members 1 and 10 can besecured in their sta-rting positions shown in the figure, which areassociated with the loaded condition of the driving spring 14, by meansof a detent device arranged to .act on the slide 15.

The said detent device comprises, in the illustrated embodiment of 4theinvention, a pawl 17 which has a lug 17a arranged to be cooperable witha projection 15a provided `on the slide 15. For the purpose of releasingthe slide 15 and in consequence releasing the setting members 1 and 10,the detent .pawl 17 is operable in a counterclockwise direction againstthe action of a coil spring 18, in response to the release operation ofthe camera. The connection with the camera release can be effected inthe form of any well known transmission device.

In order to insure that the automatic exposure setting operation iscompleted prior to opening of the camera shutter, it is possible toarrange a well-known delayedaction means which is releasable in responseto or simultaneously with the release of the camera or of the shutter,said delaying mechanism permitting a delayed operation of the shutter bya specific time interval with respect to the release operation of thecamera or the ishutter and said time interval being so selected that thesetting members 1 and 10 controlled by the light intensity measuringdevice may travel through their maximum path of movement prior toopening of the shutter.

The second diaphragm adjusting ring 5 which is manually operable andwhich is arranged to cooperate with a special device for iniiuencing theamount of open time of the camera shutter is connected to an actuatingslide 19, also termed a second diaphragm setting member, in a mannersimilar to the connection provided for the iirst diaphragm :adjustingring 3. In this case also, the connection is effected by an angle shapedlever or bellcrank 20, which is pivotally positioned about -a stationarypin 21 provided on the camera. One arm 20a of the ilever has 4a pin andslot connection 20b, 22 with the diaphragm adjusting ring S, whereas theother arm 20c has a pin 23 aflixed to it and receivable in a controlslot 19a of the actuating slide 19.

The special device which cooperates with the actuating slide 19 tor thepurpose of effecting photographs with manual exposure settings, andwhich inuences the amount of open time of the camera shutter comprises,in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, firstly, a well-knowndevice for producing B-photographs. The embodiment shows this devicevfor reasons of clarity of illustration, only as -a control lever 24which has 'a bent end portion or lug 24a engageable under the action ofa spring (not shown) with a B-cam connected to the actuating slide 19 ina manner which will be described in detail below. The B-carn comprisestwo partial ranges 25a Iand 2517. When the slide 19 is in a settingposition wherein the lever 24 engages the partial range 25a `of the cam,the B-device is placed in it-s operative position, i.e., the positionwherein it detains the shutter in open position after the latter hasbeen released and opened, for as long as the shutter release isdepressed. If, on the other hand, the slide 19 is in its settingposition wherein the lever 24 engages the partial range ZSb of the cam,the B-device is rendered inoperative. Associated with the partial range25a of the B-cam bs `a partial designated adjusting range B`of theactuating slide 19, which comprises the entire diaphragm adjusting rangefrom the aperture values of 2.8 to 22. This provides a possibility, inthe case of `B-photographs, of bringing about a change of the depth offocus by appropriately selecting the diaphragm aperture, therebyinsuring the best possible adaptability of the exposure setting to therespective objects to be photographed.

The device associated with the slide 19 and which inuences the `amountof open time of the camera shutter further comprises a control devicefor obtaining automatically run-oli exposure times of different amounts,with specific diaphragm values being associated with the said times in afixedly predetermined manner. This enables the camera to be used for thetaking of photographs even in the case where the 'automatic exposuredevice becomes inoperative for some reason.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the diaphragm values larecorrelated with the shutter speeds of different values, in such a mannerthat a uniformly graduated series of exposure values is produced whichcomprises the values from 8 to 17. These values are indicated on theactuating yslide 19, in the form of a scale 27 arranged -to cooperatewith a stationary index mark Z6. To identify the use `of the scale 27,there is further associated with said scale the letters MAN The controldevice for obtaining the automatically runoff exposure times is, in theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the same shutter Ispeedregulating device which is associated with the speed setting member 1.For this purpose, the control pin 2 of the said speed regulating deviceis arranged to cooperate with a cam 25C, provided on a |slide 25constituting a second speed setting member and which is connected to theslide 19.

The cam 25e, together with the B-cam 25a, 25h are both provided on thespecial slide-like member 25, which is iixedly lattached to the slide 19by means of 'a rail 28.

The use of but a single shutter speed regulating device having the pin2, for both the automatically operated speed setting means and themanually actuated setting means produces a particularly economical andadvantageous camera construction.

For the purpose of obtaining a desirable and reliable method ofoperation of the setting device, the invention provides that during anexposure setting, those speed and diaphragm setting members which arenot utilized in the setting operation are positioned and arranged insuch a manner that the control influence of the non-used speed adjustingmember on the speed regulating device is not effective.

For this purpose the starting position of the first diaphragm adjustingand setting members 3, 10 is associated with a setting position of thespeed setting member 1 which corresponds to the longest exposure time,and the second speed setting member 25 is also made to occupy a settingposition corresponding to the longest exposure time when the slide 19 isin its starting position, which corresponds to the setting positionrequired of said slide to effect automatic exposures, marked AUTO Inorder to make sure that the setting members will reliably occupy theirrespective starting positions, the invention provides therefor a novelinterlock device which permits switching or shifting from automatic tomanual exposure settings only when the first diaphragm adjusting andsetting members 3, 1f) are in their starting positions corresponding tothe loaded condition of the driving Spring 14.

The interlock device, as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention,comprises a pawl 29 which is pivotally carried by a pin 30' provided onthe camera. The pawl 29" is biased in a clockwise direction by a coilspring 311, to cause it to engage a cam i191: of the actuating slide 19,and said pawl has a projection 29a iwhich is receivable in a recess 10bprovided on the first diaphragm slide 10. The cooperation between thepawl 29 and the slides is such that when the slide 19 is at the settingautomatic, which is effected by bringing about a coincidence between theindex mark y26 and another index mark 32 provided on the slide 19 anddesignated with the letters AUTO, the pawl 29 under the urging of thespring 31 is disengaged from the cam edge 19d of the cam 19b, therebyenabling the projection 29a of the pawl to become disengaged'from therecess 10b of the diaphragm slide 10. Upon shifting the slide 19 intothe setting position shown in the iigure (manual adjustment, exposurevalue 8), the pawl 29 engages the camming edge 19d of the cam 191i, andis pivoted by the latter against the action of the spring 31, so as tocause the projection 29a to engage the recess 10b. It is a prerequisiteof this last operation that the diaphragm slide 10 be in its startingposition shown, which is associated with the loaded condition of thedriving spring 14. if such is not the case, the projection `29a of thepawl will abut the lower boundary edge of the diaphragm slide 10,thereby preventing the shifting of the actuation slide 19 from automaticto non-automatic setting.

As is further apparent from the figure, the actuating slide 19 has athird setting range F which is designed to be used for ash exposures. Toallow the taking of flash photographs, the entire diaphragm adjustmentrange in this setting is associated ywith a single exposure time, whichis (9,0 sec. as shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

What is claimed is:

v1. IIn a photographic camera, in combination, xedly connected, movablespeed and diaphragm setting members movable at all times as a singleunit, said diaphragm setting member including a control mechanism whichis related to the speed setting member to provide uniform exposure valuegradations over a given range of movement of the unit; two physicallyseparate reciprocally adjustable diaphragm adjusting members which areseparate from said speed and diaphragm setting members and which areadapted for carrying the diaphragm blades, movement of either membereffecting adjustment of the diaphragm aperture; coupling means betweenone adjusting member and said setting members, efecting adjustment ofsaid one adjusting member in response to movement of said settingmembers; light-responsive means for effecting automatic adjustment ofthe said setting members; manually operable means for eiectingadjustment of the other of said adjusting members; a shutter controldevice for influencing the amount of open time ofthe shutter; and means,separate from said speed setting member, for actuating said device inresponse to adjustment of the said other or said adjusting members.

2. The invention as deiined in claim 1, in which the shutter controldevice comprises a device for effecting B- exposures of the shutter.

3. The invention as defined in claim l, in which thev shutter controldevice comprises control means for effecting different shutter speeds,independently of said speed setting member, said different shutterspeeds being correlated with specific diaphragm values in apredetermined manner.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the speed and diaphragmsetting members are movable from starting positions, in which theshutter control device includes another speed setting member which issettable in a position labeled automatic, the said automatic andstarting positions of the said other speed setting andspeed-and-diaphragm setting members respectively providing for longestshutter exposure times.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which there is a device foreffecting B-exposures of the shutter, controlled by the said other speedsetting member.

6. In a photographic camera of the type which may be set eitherautomatically or manually, and which has an automatic setting mechanismcomprising iixedly connected, movable exposure-time and diaphragmsetting members correlated to provide uniform exposure valuey gradationsover a given range, in combination, two physically separate reciprocallyadjustable diaphragm adjusting members; diaphragm blades carried by saidmembers, movement of either member effecting adjustment of the diaphragmaperture; means connecting one of said adjusting members to theexposure-time setting member, said members thus connected beingautomatically moved to effect automatic setting of the camera and theremaining diaphragm adjusting member being movable to eect manualsetting of the camera; and manually operable means comprising a singleselector member settable in different selecting positions, for renderingoperative or inoperative at Will the automatic setting mechanism, saidselector member being connected With said remaining diaphragm adjustingmember and being adapted to act-uate the same and eiect a diaphragmadjustment when it has rendered inoperative the automatic settingmechamsm.

7. In a photographic camera of the type which may be set eitherautomatically or manually, and which has an automatic setting mechanismcomprising tixedly connected, movable exposure-time and diaphragmsetting members correlated to provide uniform exposure value gradationsover a given range, in combination, two physically separate reciprocallyadjustable diaphragm adjusting members; diaphragm blades carried by saidmembers, movement of either Vmember effecting adjustment of thediaphragm aperture; means connecting one of said adjusting members tothe exposure-time setting member, said members thus connected beingautomatically moved to effect automatic setting of the camera and theremaining diaphragm adjusting member being movable to etect manualsetting of the camera; and means settable in different selectingpositions, for rendering operative or inoperative at will the saidautomatic setting mechanism, said means being connected with saidremaining diaphragm adjusting member and being adapted to actuate thesame and effect a diaphragm adjustment When the means has renderedinoperative the automatic setting mechanism.

Gebele Ian. 13, 1959 Fahl NOV. l0, 1959

1. IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA, IN COMBINATION, FIXEDLY CONNECTED, MOVABLESPEED AND DIAPHRAGM SETTING MEMBERS MOVABLE AT ALL TIMES AS A SINGLEUNIT, SAID DIAPHRAGM SETTING MEMBER INCLUDING A CONTROL MECHANISM WHICHIS RELATED TO THE SPEED SETTING MEMBER TO PROVIDE UNIFORM EXPOSURE VALUEGRADATIONS OVER A GIVEN RANGE OF MOVEMENT OF THE UNIT; TWO PHYSICALLYSEPARATE RECIPROCALLY ADJUSTABLE DIAPHRAGM ADJUSTING MEMBERS WHICH ARESEPARATE FROM SAID SPEED AND DIAPHRAGM SETTING MEMBERS AND WHICH AREADAPTED FOR CARRYING THE DIAPHRAGM BLADES, MOVEMENT OF EITHER MEMBEREFFECTING ADJUSTMENT OF THE DIAPHRAGM APERTURE; COUPLING MEANS BETWEENONE ADJUSTING MEMBER AND SAID SETTING MEMBERS, EFFECTING ADJUSTMENT OFSAID ONE ADJUSTING MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SETTINGMEMBERS; LIGHT-RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OFTHE SAID SETTING MEMBERS; MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR EFFECTINGADJUSTMENT OF THE OTHER OF SAID ADJUSTING MEMBERS; A SHUTTER CONTROLDEVICE FOR INFLUENCING THE AMOUNT OF OPEN TIME OF THE SHUTTER; ANDMEANS, SEPARATE FROM SAID SPEED SETTING MEMBER, FOR ACTUATING SAIDDEVICE IN RESPONSE TO ADJUSTMENT OF THE SAID OTHER OF SAID ADJUSTINGMEMBERS.